Funds From Operations (FFO)

Funds From Operations (FFO): Definition

Funds from operations can be defined as the difference between the inflow of funds in the form of expenses.

Funds from operations are the largest source of funds used for the repayment of loans, purchase of assets, and the payment of dividends, taxes, and others.

FFO: Explanation

A controversial point is that an enterprise making a substantial profit may not have adequate funds at the end of the year/period.

Also, enterprises may have enough funds at their disposal, but they might still have incurred a substantial loss at the end of the year/period.

The reason for this paradox is that the profit and loss account records all expenses paid and outstanding, as well as all income (received and accrued).

Furthermore, charging of depreciation and amortization of intangible and fictitious assets does not require the use of funds in the current period. Rather, they simply reflect the apportionment of past expenses.

This means that the profit and loss account does not distinguish between fund flow and non-fund flow items when calculating the net profit.

Note: Non-fund flow items include depreciation, goodwill written off, amortization of intangible assets such as patents, writing off of discount on shares and/or debentures, and writing off of preliminary expenses.

Calculation of FFO

To calculate funds from operations, you can use any one of the formats shown below:

Profit and loss adjustment account (T format)

Statement form

There is no prescribed format; the choice of a particular format is only a matter of convenience.

Profit and Loss Adjustment Account

Funds from operations can be calculated either in the account format or statement format. If it is presented in the form of an account, an adjusted profit and loss account is prepared.

The account starts with the opening balance of profit on the credit side and ends with the closing balance of profit on the debit side.

If there is a loss, the opening balance appears on the debit side and the closing balance of loss appears on the credit side.

All non-operating expenses are shown on the debit side and all non-operating incomes are shown on the credit side. If the debit side is more than the credit side, the difference is referred to as funds from operation.

On the contrary, if the credit side is greater than the debit side, the difference is called funds lost in operation. The format of the adjusted profit and loss account is shown as follows:

Profit and Loss (P/L) Adjustment Account

Note: Either the funds from operations or the funds lost in operations will appear in the statement. This is also the case for opening and closing balances of the profit and loss account (profit or loss).

Statement Form

If the profit and loss adjustment account is prepared in statement form, the statement will start with the closing balance of the profit and loss account.

All such expenses that do not result in an outflow of funds are added to the profit, and all such incomes that do not result in an inflow of funds are deducted.

If the profit stated in the profit and loss account is, after making all appropriations, then the balance in the profit and loss account at the beginning of the year must also be deducted to arrive at funds from operation.

A pro forma is shown below that is useful for calculating funds from operations in statement form.

Statement Showing Funds from Operations

The formula used to calculate funds from operations (FFO) is shown below:

Formula-to-calculate-Funds-from-Operations-FFO

Example

From the following balances extracted from the books of Goods Going Ltd., calculate funds from operations for 2020 using both account format and statement format.